I am having the hardest time making it to a spin class. It’s impossible! All the darn spin classes are in the morning, right at nap time. I can never make it. And, to complicate matters further, the gym’s childcare is currently overloaded – I guess it’s just that time of the year – and I’ve got to book a reservation instead of doing drop-ins. When I could maybe make a class, childcare is full. Gah. We end up going for a lot of stroller runs.

But stroller runs are hard right now – a lovely side effect of stopping breastfeeding. While the larger emotional issues that accompany stopping are applicable to a wide range of experiences, the actual nitty gritty logistics of stopping aren’t. Let’s just say it’s a process. But I do plan to share more of the details when I’m done, in part because I found very few resources online about how to go from exclusively pumping a complete supply to stopping. Anyway – back to running. I managed to squeeze in a run yesterday, but it was SO NOT HAPPENING today. No sports bra in the world could’ve made it alright.

Childcare was available (wahoo!) and nap number one was complete (double wahoo!), so it was gym time. I was planning just to spin solo, but unfortunately, you’re not allowed to spin unless a class is in session. Hey, elliptical. Here I come.

I’m reading Part III of The Uglies series, so I managed to stick with the dreaded elliptical for a whole 45 minutes. I considered doing some weights, but my mommy ESP told me that Henry was probably melting down in childcare (and he was!), so I called it a day, brought him home for another nap, and unload all those bags of dirt from our trunk. Thirty pages at 28 pounds each – not too shabby!

That’s weird that you can’t spin unless there is a class in session, but I suppose it is for liability reasons. Do you think they’d move a bike or 2 out to the main area during non-class times for people who want to spin but can’t make it to a class?

It’s mainly because the gym is paying an hourly wage to the certified Spin instructors who teach the class. It would be a waste of their money if anyone could just get on a bike and do it themselves. (Not EXACTLY the same, but sort of akin to running a race as a bandit, without registering.)

LizFebruary 19, 2013, 1:52 pm

You just slowly decrease the number of pumps one at a time. I think it is recommended to wait at least a week between dropped pumps. You cant just stop…

oh giiiiiiiiirl, i am definitely not stopping cold turkey! my boobs or head would explode, one or the other. i’m not dropping pumps yet either, but even slowly decreasing it is throwing my body into a tailspin. i feel like it’s day 1 of breastfeeding all over again.

thanks for that link! babycenter has some great stuff sometimes. i will look into it. thanks!!!

by what i read, i though you meant you were going from exclusively pumping-to stopping, too! my boobs cringed when i read that. lol. but i’m glad to hear you’re taking it slow! i BF my son until he was 21 months but stopping was no problem since he was down to one a day for only a couple of minutes anyways. i dont even know if he was getting anything…? anyways, i do remember when we would cut one feed at a time when i had a bigger supply. O-U-C-H! here’s to hoping you have a quick and relatively painless experience from here on out! good luck mama!

StephanieFebruary 19, 2013, 2:03 pm

When I was exclusively pumping, that baby center birth board was my go to spot for all things pumping (including weaning – which I did by slowly dropping pumps, about 1 pump per week until I got down to one pump per day then 1 every other day, etc). Great, positive group with tons of knowledge there.

CaitlinFebruary 19, 2013, 2:05 pm

Anyone ever stop faster? I know stopping faster has it’s drawbacks, but I would really like this to take less then two weeks to get to one pump a day.

KellyFebruary 19, 2013, 2:36 pm

I think it took me about 2 weeks to stop totally. I believe (it’s funny, it was just last summer but it’s hard to remember), that I spent a couple of days pumping an ounce or two less at every session, and then began to drop one pumping session every few days.

sherylFebruary 19, 2013, 3:25 pm

I, too, was an exclusive pumper and though I didn’t stop cold turkey I was able to cut down to one pump a day in one week. The first two days were the worst, I went from 4-5 pumps per day to 3, then 2, then I pumped only twice per day for 3 more days, and then once until I chose to stop completely. It was painful (physically and emotionally!), but I found that once I had my heart set on it, it was totally doable. In fact, the relief of knowing that I was off the hook for pumping, cleaning etc. was enough to get my through the first few days of terrible discomfort. Exclusive pumpers are a rare group… I’m so glad you posted your experience here!

MorganFebruary 19, 2013, 9:56 pm

It took me about 10-14 days to go from exclusively pumping to completely stopping.

I started out by spacing out my pumping sessions to 4 hours apart. (It used to be more like every 2.5-3 hours). Then, a couple days later I started reducing the time I spent pumping at each of those sessions so I was still 1/4 to 1/2 full when I stopped. A couple of days after that, I spaced the pumping sessions out to more like 5.5-6 hours between pumps (at this point it was only 2-3 times a day)…Couple of days after that I only pumped for like 5 minutes total each pumping session. Next, I spaced out the pumping sessions to just 2 a day, still pumping 5 min. each time. 2 days later, I went to 1 pump a day, and then just stopped. My breasts were still very full and painful, but I only pumped when I had a hard painful spot, and even then it was just for a min. I dried up completely about a 2 weeks later, but the engorgement went away gradually over a couple of days time.

jessikaFebruary 20, 2013, 2:20 am

It took me about two weeks, but I think since you exclusively pump it will go faster (no one is demanding boob in the middle of the night). I just added more time inbetween my pumping session, until I was only once a day, then I just stopped. I went from 3 pumping sessions and between 3-4 nursing sessions. I just kept spacing them out, and one would drop off every few days.
Also, since I had supply issues if I didn’t maintain a high weight, I restricted my calories so my body wouldn’t produce as much.
Good luck!

jessikaFebruary 20, 2013, 2:25 am

Oh!!!! And still pump until you’re empty, unless you like mastitis 🙁
(I had it while my son was about 9 month AND I was in the hospital. no fun)

I exclusivly pump right now, my daughter just turned 12 weeks this past weekend. If i miss one pump session I feel like I might blow…. the thought of weaning makes me want to cry just thinkng about it! I would be really interested in hearing how weaning worked for you seeing so I am going to have to do it some day…. but for now I am trying to stick with it as long as possible… but man oh man is it draining…

Good for you for still getting to the gym, despite not being able to run and having issues with going on the bikes. I’m surprised you guys cant use them unless there’s a class- what’s the point of having them there 90% of the time, unused?

AllisonFebruary 19, 2013, 2:36 pm

I EP’ed for seven months with my son and felt the exact same way you felt about it. There came a time when my determination to EP took second place to my sanity. Great job for going eight months!
When I decided to stop, I basically did everything I could do to taper down… and it just wasn’t happening very fast at all (I was pumping two eight oz bottles five times per day). I was completely miserable… I got a severe cold during all of this and started taking mucinex. The mucinex was cleared by my pharmacist and pediatrician. Anyway, after two days of taking the mucinex, my milk was almost dried up. Probably not the best way to do it, but at the time, it was a nice, unexpected side effect to the nasty cold. I was very close losing my mind! Hope this helps!

CaitlinFebruary 19, 2013, 3:25 pm

I have been taking sudafed. I wonder if the ingredient is similar?

AllisonFebruary 19, 2013, 5:01 pm

Possibly… The way I look at it is anything that will dry up mucus, will dry up milk. I do believe that Mucinex is more potent than sudafed… worth a try!

SusanFebruary 19, 2013, 8:19 pm

Musinex and Sudafed are NOT similar. Sudafed contains pseudophedrine, which is used by some to make methamphetamine, and is highly controlled for purchase by pharmacies. Not advised if nursing. Musinex, is purely guaifenesine, an expectorant, designed to get rid of muscus by thinning it out (with the help of drinking water.)

I am a nationally certified pharmacy technician, if you are wondering about my credentials. Hope this helps.

Any chance you could have a mini babysitting share with some mom friends and drop Henry off at times when the gym daycare is unavailable?

DanielleFebruary 19, 2013, 2:47 pm

I went from exclusively pumping to weaning also, and I agree its no fun. I think there are 3 components from my experience: Increase the time between sessions, decrease the time/amount you pump at each session (instead of pumping to empty I would pump a few ounces and then stop— huuuuge mental challenge! But essential) and then finally dropping a session altogether. So for example, the first session I dropped was my 12pm session. Instead of pumping at 12, I’d wait until 12:30. When I pumped at 1230 I was VERY ready, but I left them semi-full. Then I’d pump again at my normally scheduled time, but again pump to semi-full. After a few days, there wasnt much to pump at 12:30 so I could push it even longer, and eventually that session went away.
For me, I’d have to wait about 3 days on the “new” schedule before I tried to tackle backing off of another session, it seemed to be how long it took my body to acclimate to the new supply.

Overall- trust your body. Milk production truly is supply and demand and the supply will chill out over time as long as youre still not demanding 🙂

HannahFebruary 19, 2013, 3:00 pm

I just went to TJ’s yesterday and saw the jar of beans.. BUT! Right next to it, there was a jar of Eggplant Garlic. I’ve been trying to create a eggplant pesto dip type thing that I usually buy at my Farmer’s Market and I saw that TJ’s had their own version. I don’t know if you like eggplants or garlic, but please try it! It’s so so good! ( ;

mamaFebruary 19, 2013, 3:13 pm

Have you tried cabbage leaves? You put them inside your bra covering your whole breast and replace them when they become wilted! Something about the gasses in the cabbage reduces the production of milk! This along with spacing out the time in between pumping and not pumping until empty should do it for you in a few weeks! Also, indoor tanning helps…not the best option but it really does dry you up! I pumped a ton, fed my 2 children, and donated over 3,000 ounces to a milk bank! So, i know all about overproduction!!

mamaFebruary 19, 2013, 3:13 pm

Have you tried cabbage leaves? You put them inside your bra covering your whole breast and replace them when they become wilted! Something about the gasses in the cabbage reduces the production of milk! This along with spacing out the time in between pumping and not pumping until empty should do it for you in a few weeks! Also, indoor tanning helps…not the best option but it really does dry you up! I pumped a ton, fed my 2 children, and donated over 3,000 ounces to a milk bank! So, i know all about overproduction!!

CaitlinFebruary 19, 2013, 3:22 pm

Yes to cabbage! It smells gross. Interesting about tanning! I wish it was warm out…

JanetteFebruary 19, 2013, 3:17 pm

Use the old fashion way cold cabbage leaves on your boobs, works like a charm, I did that with my son.

Why can’t you spin if a class isn’t in session? That seems strange. Unless the bikes are just that expensive that they need to be constantly supervised? I hope you get to spin soon. I’ve NEVER gone before, I want to but I’m highly intimidated. :-/

Me too! I have no idea about children or pumping, but mad respect for getting some gym time in! Hopefully they’ll get the schedule adjusted so you can get some spin time in! Any chance Dadhtp can help like you used to walk and do?

That’s such a bummer they wouldn’t let you spin when there was no class, frustrating! Kudo’s to you for knocking-out a workout anyway. I would say hauling in the dirt counts as a weights workout for sure 😉

I was going to say cold cabbage too… just learned about it this week (OB class).

AlisonFebruary 19, 2013, 6:03 pm

I exclusively pumped and just dropped one pump every 3 days or so. I had to go back to wearing breast pads and it was a little uncomfortable but worth it. In the end I kept up just pumping before bed for a month bc by that time I was comfortable and didn’t mind just the one time so she could still have some bmilk,.

I definitely understand your issue and can relate, although I am just getting started. Baby #2 is only 6 weeks and until I find a better quality sports bra, doubling up is a REQUIREMENT! Spinning is a great workout, so I hope you’re able to find a way to get it in. Good luck!

Hello! I just recently stumbled upon your blog and I really admire your lifestyle and healthy, positive, can-do attitude you seem to bring to everything 🙂 I’ll admit, there are a lot of things I can’t relate to (my husband and I married about a year and half ago, but we have no plans for children at least in our near future; and, I’m way less creative/motivated with my cooking endeavors), but I very much enjoy reading your about experiences.

Specifically, I’m most interested in what it’s been like for you to have to sacrifice exercise and certain workouts as a definite priority in light of your son (which, of course, is a no-brainer, but I imagine it’s frustrating, nonetheless). I took a tumble down the stairs the other day and bruised my tailbone and have been struggling with a significant decrease in my daily physical activity level. It’s uncomfortable to sit around all day or only be able to walk (veeerrrry slowly) on the treadmill for about 20 minutes.

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know, I really appreciate you sharing your experiences, struggles, and joys with balancing everything (especially your Body & Mind After Baby series!)

The gym that I previously taught spin at had the same policy- you could only use the bikes if you were there for a class. I think this was because there were issues with members trying to use the stereos. The gym I’m currently at has a few spin bikes out on the cardio deck and I think it’s a great idea, especially for newbies who want to get a sense of what a spin bike is like before committing to a whole class. I’m glad you still managed to get a sweat session in!

KatieFebruary 19, 2013, 8:26 pm

This sounds crazy but use cabbage leaves to stop milk production! It really works!

AliFebruary 19, 2013, 9:05 pm

My gym has that stupid “no spinning unless a class is in session” rule too. And it does not make sense because spinning bikes are less expensive than the Life Fitness ones they usually have in the general-use area of gyms, so it’s not like it would cost more to replace them if they were overused. I have noticed though that people sometimes sneak into the spinning studio during quiet times at the gym, so maybe you could figure out a way to do that 🙂

I am surprised that they won’t let you spin outside of a class! You are better one than me to be able to spin solo. I think the only time I can spin if ever is when I have a group around me motivating me! Glad you were able to get your workout in!

So crazy about not being able to spin alone. That is one of my favorite workouts. I love classes but being able to pick my own music and push myself in the dark is the best. And thanks for the Trader Joe’s rec, it looked delicious!

CMDFebruary 20, 2013, 10:23 am

Ohhh yeah – when my son weaned, after his last BF, my boobs were ROCKS for a couple weeks after. Like, hurt to even touch with the tip of my finger. And leaked. We were on vacation, too, so I was in and out of a bathing suit all week! Totally forgot about that 🙂

How weird! Every gym I’ve belonged to lets people use the spin bikes no matter if a class is in session or not. Mostly because people say it’s not the same because they don’t end up pushing themselves as hard as they would in a class.

BobbieFebruary 21, 2013, 8:43 pm

I’m sure somebody else has already said this but cabbage. Sounds crazy and smells even crazier but each time I weened babies from breastfeeding I put cabbage in a sports bra and wore it..changing cabbage out when it got wilty. It still takes a couple days but it works.

This has been a big theme in my training. I simply cannot (with some exceptions) make my exercise ‘appointment based’. If there’s a diaper emergency or something it could make me 5, 10 maybe 20 minutes late getting out the door. If it’s just me going for a swim/bike/run, no problem. If I had to meet a coach, instructor or team – big problem. I’ve always focused on solo effort anyway, but being a parent makes it a necessity.

I’m not a Registered Dietitian (RD). For specific medical counseling, please contact a Registered Dietitian or your doctor. My blog posts are based on my own personal knowledge, experience, and opinions. This website's privacy policy is available here.